AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNSYLVANIAN
the Chief Clerk McCullough, but my feeling was that Durham ought to devote at least a part of his time and thought in attention to it. I wrote to him October 11th, 1904, saying to him in effect that I expected him to spend at least one day of the week in his department at Harrisburg. The situation was complicated by the fact that his health was being undermined by disease. In answer to my letter, I received this reply:
(Personal and confidential)
Honorable Samuel W. Pennypacker,
- Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Governor:
Mr. Durham has casually in conversation taken up with me your communication of October 11th, regarding the propriety of his going once a week to Harrisburg, and calling his attention to the editorial in the Evening Bulletin. I suggested to Mr. Durham that perhaps I might take this matter up with you more freely than he would like to do, and I requested him to leave your communication with me for that purpose. As a matter of fact, the Insurance Department has an office in Philadelphia, at Tenth and Chestnut streets, and has for many years had an office at that place. Three-fourths of the current business of the department is done in the City of Philadelphia. There has been absolutely no criticism upon the administration of the department since Mr. Durham has been commissioner. A gentleman of such independent proclivities as Mr. Charles Platt advised me last fall that the administration of the Insurance Department under Mr. Durham was more satisfactory than they had ever had it, and expressed his gratification in a substantial way by inclosing me a voluntary contribution of $100 for the State Committee. Mr. West, a director of The Union League, has expressed himself to me in a similar manner. Of course, Mr. Durham has been compelled to be absent a good deal from Pennsylvania on account of his health, but when he is home I know that the business of the department receives his personal attention, and there is no one having business with the department who cannot see him readily. As I have said, the large proportion of those having business with the department can see him more conveniently to themselves in Philadelphia than at any other place.
